Sociology professor Kelly provides a well-reasoned, if familiar, critique of the American criminal justice system, along with thoughtful prescriptions for revolutionary reform. Despite the trillions the U.S. has spent over the last four decades on criminal justice and the war on drugs, crime has not been significantly reduced. For Kelly, that failure is inextricably linked with the system’s focus on punishment, which often includes incarceration, as a response to criminal behavior. Such policies ignore many reasons for criminality, including substance abuse, mental illness, and poor education, and Kelly is persuasive in describing how 'behavior change interventions... can reduce crime, recidivism, victimization, and cost.' His balanced approach, which includes an understanding of the historical and societal forces that led to the Nixon-era War on Crime and its successor.

Publishers Weekly

Between 1972 and 1984, state and federal prison populations doubled. From 1984 to 1992, incarceration doubled again. Then it doubled once more from 1992 to the present. This represents a pinnacle in a sordid kind of way: the land of the free has been for some years now the most punitive nation in modern times. Meanwhile, the recidivist rate is awful. Why has the so-called correctional system gone so wrong? In this brilliant book, Kelly, a sociologist at the University of Texas at Austin, has a lot to say. His book is less about the future of crime and punishment than an analysis of the country's defective status quo. Kelly observes that crime occurrences have complex antecedents—neurological, psychological, and social. Punishment has little utility in reducing crime, he believes. But the recipe for carceral excess has been perfected: choose incarceration as the punishment of choice for a growing list of crimes. Ignore factors like drug and alcohol addiction, mental illness, and intellectual capacity in sentencing. Next, dump offenders in facilities where transformative treatment, if any, is dubious. Then, release offenders to the community without full support. They'll come back; we'll pay. Summing Up:Essential. All levels/libraries.

Choice Reviews

In The Future of Crime and Punishment: Smart Policies for Reducing Crime and Saving Money, William Kelly tells us where crime and justice policy has been and where it needs to go. Drawing on a wealth of scholarship, Kelly incisively diagnoses the misdirections and misspending that have left America holding the tab, with far too little to show for it. More importantly, he identifies critical lessons from mistakes of the past and presents compelling, research-based strategies for advancing public safety and justice.

Daniel P. Mears, Professor of Criminology at Florida State University

Consensus now exists that the punishment paradigm that guided American criminal justice policy for four decades is bankrupt. William Kelly diagnoses why this is so but, more importantly, instructs us on how, at this unique policy turning point, to be smart rather than tough on crime. Clearly written and compellingly argued, this volume is an invaluable resource for scholars and ideal for classroom use.

Francis T. Cullen, Distinguished Research Professor Emeritus, University of Cincinnati

William Kelly offers a comprehensive, insightful look into the world of criminal justice that is presented in layman terms. This work can be easily comprehended by the student learner and yields information that is valuable for the seasoned practitioner. Kelly grabs the reader from the initial pages and maintains that level of engagement as he takes the reader on a historical journey through the US criminal justice system – hitting on major political and policy elements that have contributed to mass over-incarceration. His perspective is extremely accurate and on target. In addition to discussing the problem with the current state of corrections within the United States criminal justice system, Kelly shares plausible solutions which build upon contemporary models that have enjoyed some success. This book is a must read for everyone who has ever considered our criminal justice system and asked "how did we get here?" or "how can we fix it?".

Maxine L. Bryant, Phd, professor of criminal justice, Armstrong State University, Savannah, GA

This book is a must read for anyone interested in understanding why punishment alone will not work in changing criminal behavior. William Kelley offers a thought provoking analysis of the criminal justice system and provides a road map for changing how we do business.

Edward Latessa, Professor, School of Criminal Justice, University of Cincinnati